The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-09-01

, important that should be q my pos, |
once. a. something might occur, whics
sbonld II occur without my kuoslede,
xould render dissertation oi ihe conied
trsoy necessary on my psrt
The wind WAS blowing hsrricaoe an
the waves Of the old Mississippi we're iear
fall TO ssxs upon. feared ~ irsil crai
would hardly live in such ~, but know
ing IL all my own fault that ] had beef
csugh, 10 such storm on ths wrong sid
Of the river. determined TO cross At al
hazards. Alter superhumsn Efforts
reached the Louisiana shore ia safety
Hastily securing my boat. with chokiu,
sensation at my throat. for eEeitement a
neglect of my duty had rendered m,
almost paralytic. rushed into the Office
and. as ,elegraphers say. cut To- Instsn-
tAneously heard my old chum Daniel
calling ~" ~ with the energy OF des
pair ! answered !. |. i--v.
His first words were. "Grakt God, F..
90 transports sod gunboais have passed
sirce dark, and as far as the eye can reach
up the river they are still coming. Rush
across aud give the alarm. leave here.
for this line will be destroyed and OF no
moie service.
The storm had not abated, but without
q ,hrnaI, ~ da,uar I raohal scrasa ln
Vicksburp
A great ball was ia progress, at which
tho general aud his staff, as we'll as al the
beauty aud chiyalry OF the city and sur
rounding country, were present. The
great house was a surgiug mass Of daacers
and promenaders.
Singing out the general. | walked up
to him respectfully. saluted himself and
bis lady partner. / will never forget his
scowl at me. for was thoroughly drench-
ed and muddy from head to foot, nor will
| ever forget the curious and wondering
looks given me by the ladies, with whom
was one OF the favored beaux myself
(being dandy and masher at my highest
capacity.
cannot imagine what they thought OF
my appearance. hadn't time to feel
OF my condition or at my tramp
like outfit in that magnificent throng.
As stepped up close to the general be
exclaimed, "Well. sirl' 10 loud and
manner. | merely handed
him q piece OF paper upon which l had
hastily written the number OF boats that
had passed, etc. He glanced at me at
first deliberately, but In second he drew
it close TO his eyes. His face paled, his
brovs contracted, and be exclaimed
Where did you get this information, sir?'
my reply was: II am stationed across the
river, opposite this city, In charge Of the
telegraph. by your order.
The great crowd had pressed around us
IS his remarks to me were in very high |
sey. He exclaimed: "Al officers OF the
Irmy will hurry to their respective camps |
It once The enemy are within a few |
niles OF US and may land by morning. |
Nj families wishing to leave the city will
,e furnished transportation by rail-
In FIVE minutes that ball was thing Of
he past.
70 say there was too much business for
he wires that night is only superfuous
ialf OF the messages we're never sent, and
nly those asking reinforcements from
very part OF the confederacy we're ever
The first telegram was to President
)avis apprising him of the situation.
VERY one then living at Vicksburg
emembers our big fight at Cbickasaw
ayou day or tive afterwards, where the
nemy landed, and where they we're SO
srribly defeated, causing them to retreat
p the river, not troubling Vicksburg to
ny extent for many long day. They
mused themselves occasionally by send
,g or attempted to send gunboat past
ur batteries, in which psstime they often
let with ignominious failure. Right
ere let me remark that that little tele-
raph line across closed for repairs, as
ie Feds fading 1t aud knowing that it
al Coufeds OF their visit never allowed
a inch Of wire or foot OF pole Of the
hole seventy five miles OF the line to
main iu existence. verify believe they
ust have eaten it 10 their blind rage.
ope they digested it WELL "Vale, long.
I'm, vale, my little telegraph wire. You
d your duty nobly before you we're
Inihiated by the invaders, and | will
lerish your memory as long as life shall
st. You acted your part we'll.